Wood pulp for the manufacture of refrigerators and art ot making the same



(No Model.) Y

` C. B. GARDNER. WOOD PDL? FOR THB MANUPAGTURE OF REPRIGERATORS AND ART0F MAKING THBSAMB. No. 374,183.v

Patented Deo. 6, 1887-..

- NVE/M7575.

wrm/55555- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES B. GARDNER, OF ALLSTON, (BOSIONJ MASSACHUSETTS.

WOOD PULP FOR THE MANUFACTURE 0F REFRIGERATORS AND ART 0T MAKING THESAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,183, dated December6, 1887.

Application led March l0, 1887.

To all whom may concern.-

Be it known that I, GHAELEs B. GARDNER, of Allston, (Bostom) in thecounty of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Wood Pulp for the Manufacture ofRefrigerators and the Art of Making the Same, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to material for the manufacture of refrigerators,ice-chests,watercool ers, and analogous articles, and to the art ofmaking and compounding such material.

In the construction of arefrigerator or analogous article designed toreceive ice for the purpose of cooling` the air contained in sucharticle, in order to prevent decomposition in perishable materials orfor the purpose of cooling water, it is very desirable, among otherthings, that the article 'should be constructed of material which issubstantially a non-corr ductor of heat and practically unaffected bymoisture, and thatit should at the same time be easily cleansed,light inweight,and of low cost.

It has been found that wood pulp is among the best non-conductors ofheat, and while it is light and comparatively cheap of production, andcan readily be made up into various articles of ware, among them thosenamed above, in order to render it practically impervious to moisture itbecomes necessary to treat it with chemicals, so that its surfaces maybe coated or enameled with Waterproof material. This chemical treatmentsomewhat lowers the non-conducting properties ofthe material, andtherefore renders it less desirable for the manufacture ofrefrigerators, water-coolers, 86e., though in its chemically-treatedstate wood pulp is a better nonconductor of heat than most materials ofwhich it is practical to form the articles mentioned.

It is the object of my invention to so construct the walls of arefrigerator, Snc., of wood pulp as that a portion of such walls shallbe composed of virgin non chemicallytreated pulp, while the otherportion or portions are thus chemically treated, whereby the surfacesmay be enameled, so as to render the material practically water-proof,and at the same time the structure will be so re-enforced with thematerial in its normal state as to render it in the highest degree anon-conductor of heat.

Serial No. 230,384. (No model.)

I accomplish the object mentioned by the improved process hereinafterdescribed,whicli process results in the improved article, also explainedhereinafter, both process and article being particularly pointed out inthe claims.

To enable my invention to be the better understood by those skilled inthe art, reference is to be made to the accompanying drawings, and tothe lettersof reference marked thereon, forming a part of thisspecification, the same letters indicating the same parts wherever theyoccur.

In the drawings, Figure l represents a front elevation of a refrigeratorembodying my'invention, parts being shown as broken out. Fig. 2represents a cross-section of my improved material constructed inaccordance with the process constituting one of the features of myinvention. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified manner offorming the walls of a refrigerator.

In carrying out my invention I form thepulp into sheets or hollowcylinders or othershapes in any of the known ways, making such sheets orcylinders, say, one inch in thickness, and chemically treat the same, sothat the surfaces may be enameled or coated with a water-proof compound,as represented at a, such chemical treatment extending from thesurfacesinward for but a short distance-say for one-third of the extentof the thickness of the material--as represented as b, leavingtheinterior @thereof in its virgin or natural state, and thusconstituting a material for the manufacture of refrigerators and similararticles which is at once a superior non-conductor of heat,liglit inWeight, entirely water-proof, and cheap of manufacture. The descriptionthus far given has been made with reference to the structure shown atthe right in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 2. In Fig. 3 and at the left in Fig. l Ihave shown a structure for the walls of a refrigerator composed of twosheets of my improved material with an airspace therebetween, this formbeing designed for larger structures and instances Where a larger wallor casing for a refrigerator of the highest non-conducting properties isdesired.

By the material and process described I am enabled by well-knowncentrifugal action to form wood pulp into hollow cylinders cfa size andshape suitable for refrigerators, like that,

IOO

for instance, represented in Fig. 1, or for other similar articles, andtreat the same in such manner as to render it entirely impervious towater, and at the same time preserve its high properties as anon-conductor of heat. In addition to these advantages, articles of thekind mentioned can be made at low cost, be very durable, and so light inweight as to permit of their being moved from place to place with theutmost ease. It may also be mentioned that articles manufactured inaccordance with my process may be easily ornamented and made attractivein appearance, and be readily cleansed and kept free from impurities ofevery kind.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. As a materialfor the manufacture of refrigerators and analogous articles, wood pulpchemically treated from its surfaces inward for a portion of the waytoward its center, leaving the central portion in its virgin or naturalstate, and having its surfaces enameled or coated with a water-proofsubstance, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

2. In the art of treating wood pulp for the manufacture of refrigeratorsand analogous articles, the improvement consisting in forming the pulpinto sheets or hollow cylinders, then chemically treating such sheets orcylinders from the surfaces inward for a short distance toward thecenter, leaving the central. portion in its natural or Virgin state, andfinally enameling or coating the surfaces with a waterproof substance,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses, this 22d day of January, A. D.1887.

CHARLES B. GARDNER.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR W. ORossLEY, FRANK S. MAsoN.

